By Alexandra Stevenson
Isabelle Delobel & Olivier Schoenfelder from France, who won their first world medal in a world championship when they claimed the gold last March, have competed in this event every year since they made their debut in 1998 when they finished 19th. However, they finally admitted the inevitable, and announced their withdrawal from Los Angeles at a Press Conference with the French team in Paris on March 13. She had surgery on her right shoulder on January 5 which revealed that her December 14 injury, incurred while doing an encore to conclude the Exhibition program at the Grand Prix Final in Goyang City, South Korea, which they had won, was worse than expected. The surgeon who performed the arthroscopic procedure in Annecy anticipated that the operation would take a couple of hours. Instead, it was well over three. Delobel said, "I got a buffer with two screws and a repair of the bursa. I had a front lesion and, during the operation, they discovered I had posterior lesions that couldn’t be seen with the MRI." She began her rehabilitation at a sports facility in Cap Breton on the Atlantic Ocean in early February. "Most of the patients had sports injury but most involved knees. Because I am right-handed, my biggest challenge initially was all the simple tasks of eating, combing my hair and brushing my teeth. It was incredibly frustrating." She was there for four weeks.
"Being optimistic is part of the rehab process but I had to accept that when the team left for San Diego (to get used to the jet lag before Worlds), I could not go with them. Our coach (Muriel Boucher Zazoui) agreed that, after the nice start to our season (when they were unbeaten), it would not be a good idea to compete in the shape I was still in." Delobel said that one of the happiest signs for the future came from a fan, who alerted her to the fact that the Free Dance at next year’s Olympics will take place on St. Isabelle’s Day, the saint she was named after.
By a freak coincidence, both Delobel & Schoenfelder and the fast-improving young Canadians, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, who had won the Free Dance and the overall silver medals last year in what was only their second appearance in worlds, had chosen the same music as the French duo, The Great Gig in the Sky from Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon album. Virtue said she was astounded when they found out in October that they were performing to the same music as the world champions. Moir said, "We’re actually sad the Pink Floyds didn’t go head-to-head this year. We wish Isabelle a speedy recovery and look forward to competing against them next year." Delobel nixed the idea of them competing with this routine next season. She said, "We enjoyed performing to it but we have never, in recent years, kept the same routine for two seasons in a row. We expect to have new programs next season. The background story for the piece was the story of our life so maybe we’ll develop it as an exhibition." Her partner said, "We really enjoyed performing it."
In a teleconference on March 17, Virtue & Moir declared, "This has certainly been our toughest season so far." Their career began in 1997 when they were 7 & 9, and were paired up by his aunt, who was a coach at the Ilderton Skating Club just outside of London, Ontario. Virtue, who will be 20 on May 17, and Moir, who turned 22 on September 2, have been on the fast track their whole career. In their resumés are gold medals from just about every level, including a "Tomorrow’s Champions" juvenile title in 2000 through the 2004 Canadian Junior title, the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final title, the 2006 Junior World title. No one could remember when Canadians finished so high as sixth in their debut in Worlds in 2007. In Worlds last year, they were second in the Compulsory, third in the Original and won the Free Dance to claim silver 5.56 points ahead of the bronze medalists, Jana Khoklova and Sergei Novitski. But, their progression came abruptly to a halt when she began to suffer from the rare chronic external compartment syndrome, which is an overuse injury causing pain in both her shins. Virtue had surgery on October 6. The description of her shins being cut open to loosen the "fascial" tissue surrounding the shin muscles is not for those who are the least bit queasy about medical matters.
Virtue was unable to return to the ice until six weeks prior to nationals. Moir was left to practice with a sand-bag. When they defended their Canadian title in January, they hadn’t competed since Worlds, ten months previously. At the Four Continents championships, in February, they unsuccessfully tried to defend the title, losing to Meryl Davis & Charlie White, with whom they train in Canton, Michigan. Virtue was obviously in pain. Each time she left the ice, she removed her boots at lightning speed and immediately headed for the medical office. In the teleconference, she admitted, "There definitely is still pain and ups and downs, but much less pain than I was in previously (before the surgery). I’ve learned a lot about pain management. You can do a lot without medication (which she must be careful about because of the constant drug testing which is done in international competition). I do visualizations and have massages and physiotherapy to stay healthy. There are so many other things you can do. The downs are not nearly so bad and the ups are really up. We’ve definitely made huge improvements from Four Continents. We’ve learned a lot about our partnership and that has made us stronger. Canadians and Four Continents were huge milestones to get through." Her partner said, "We’re very excited to be competing for Canada again on the world stage in Los Angeles. Hopefully, you will notice that our elements are stronger and definitely more consistent. I think you’ll come to see the Tessa and Scott you really know, skating the programs, loving every moment of being out on the ice with a lot more power and strength in the movements."
Do they feel they are the team to beat at Worlds? Moir said, "I don’t know if that’s so. We definitely don’t think we’re got a target on our back. There are some good couples out there. It’s definitely going to be a good competition next week. We’re excited about getting out there, doing the best we can and showing off our programs which we love. We kind of have to keep tunnel vision and just worry about our skating." Virtue said she agreed with her partner. "We haven’t competed much this season so it’s tough to say where we rank. It’s tough to be out with an injury and, coming back, you are never sure where you might fit in. We’re coming in aggressively and optimistically and we’ll be attacking everything. There will be a little more pressure and extra butterflies with it being the year before the Olympics but it’s good to get the experience of this. After all, it’s only our third Worlds." They also said they were looking forward to Tuesday morning’s Paso Doble compulsory, and to competing against Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto. "We trained with them for four years before they left Canton," said Moir. "We just want everyone out there to do the best they can and make it a great competition.
Belbin & Agosto shocked the skating world at the end of last season, when they left Igor Shpilband, the coach who had teamed them together in 1998, and moved to Aston, PA, to train with Natalia Linichuk & Gennadi Karponosov. The impetus which spurred them in that direction was finishing off the world championship podium in Gothenburg for the first time since 2004. Doesn’t it seems like just yesterday, that the whole country was pulling for Belbin and following the saga of the Canadian’s struggle to obtain US citizenship in time to compete in the 2006 Olympics? The 2005 world silver medalists got through that obstacle and earned the Olympic silver, the first US team to medal in ice dance since Colleen O’Connor & Jim Millns won bronze when ice dance was introduced into the Games in 1976. But then things just didn’t go quite as expected. At the 2006 & 2007 worlds, they won the bronze medals. Then, in Sweden last March, Belbin fell during the Argentine Tango. She had never fallen in that compulsory in her life, not even in practice. It was devastating.
Linichuk & Karponosov, who won the 1980 Olympic ice dance gold medals, told Belbin & Agosto, they needed a new approach. Belbin explained, "They thought we were expending energy but not using it correctly. They did a lot of work with us, leg work, pressing into the ice more, so we were not scrambling around the ice as much." But then, in mid-December, they were forced to withdraw before their Tosca Free Dance in the Grand Prix Final in Goyang City, South Korea. Agosto explained, "I was diagnosed with a herniated disk in my lower back and also a bulging disk, which compressed my sciatic nerve going down into my right leg. We weren’t able to track it to any traumatic incident. It had an insidious onset. It just started getting worse and worse until finally it was really bad. My rehab has been an uphill battle, but it has been steadily progressing in the right direction. Knock on wood, I haven’t had any big flare-ups or setbacks." Agosto, who turned 27 on January 15, was off the ice for three weeks, which meant they were unable to defend the US title, which they had held for the previous five years. After that layoff, "I did a lot of balance therapy trying to get all sorts of neurological pathways to recover. I did some traction. I had a couple of epidural injections fairly early on and those really helped to bring all the inflammation down and get those nerve roots back to their normal conditions. So, it’s been a little of a waiting game." When Agosto got back on the ice, "I could only take baby steps, just stroking. From there on, it’s been gradual adding on stuff, from day-to-day, walking the fine line between getting the work done that needs to be accomplished, but not injuring myself again. At this point, I don’t really feel that I’m tentative. I’m close to 100%. It’s been a great feeling to go from not-doing what I normally do from day to day to now being so that I can go into my elements with the same vigor. This has been a very interesting season for us. We had a huge change in our whole environment. We moved to Philadelphia and we’re taking from new coaches. In itself, that was a very big adjustment. It’s been wonderful and we’ve been learning so much and really enjoying so much all the new energy. But then I had this injury to my back. In retrospect, I’m glad it happened when it did. I’m feeling really strong and healthy now. I’m really looking forward to performing well in LA. This world championship is going to be, if anything, the biggest mental challenge we have had to deal with in our careers, but I believe we’re ready for it."
Belbin, 24, claims she benefited from her partner’s enforced layoff. "I didn’t take a day off while he was recovering. I even trained right after we came back from the Grand Prix Final. It gave me a great opportunity to work on my extension, power, and my control over my own skating and technique. Maybe this has been a blessing in disguise. It’s always difficult to find the time to work on basic technique by yourself. Truthfully, if you can’t manage to do the program by yourself, then you can’t expect your partner to hold you up, either. It was a really big challenge for me to be able to take that next step and gain a new level of strength in my skating. And I really feel like I did that. So, I have a renewed level of confidence in myself going into this next event and I’m anxious to compete." She also said she had increased her off-ice training. "Obviously, as hard as you push yourself, you are not using the same muscles when you don’t have your partner there so I did more Pilates, and we have a wonderful ballet coach who came from Russia to help us with all the little details."
Agosto said he was shocked when he began skating with Belbin again. "It was like trying to skate with a race horse. She was so strong! I felt like a rodeo cowboy. I just had to hold on. She had really worked hard." They expect that extra power will particularly help them through their compulsory dance, which has always been their weakest section. Agosto said, "Surprisingly, almost every bit of our programs is the same. We made a lot of tweaks in footwork in the never-ending quest for the highest levels possible. We did make one change to a lift, partially because of my back but partially because we felt it was a questionable position for me anyway."
Because they did not compete at nationals, they had to perform the CD, OD & FD in front of a panel. Belbin explained, "I believe we were named to the world team after nationals but it was pending monitoring sessions by members of the international selection committee, which included a visit from Ben’s doctor who oversaw his recovery. We know we’re ready for the last session." That took place the day after their press teleconference, and it was completed with no problem. Agosto said, "It was good practice. It got us in the mode for competition. Nobody knows what will happen in Los Angeles. It’s a giant gamble. It seems everybody has had set-backs. I don’t think there’s been a clear leader all season. I believe the podium is wide open. When we did Skate America (finishing 2nd to Delobel & Schoenfelder) and Cup of China (again taking the 2nd slot, this time to Russians, Oksana Domnina & Maxim Shabalin), everything was still so new to us, with different techniques from our new coaches, new programs, we didn’t feel we had an opportunity to show what we’ve been able to accomplish this past year. We hope that in Los Angeles, people will take a step back and consider us with fresh eyes."
Shortly after Belbin & Agosto transferred to Aston, they were joined by Oksana Domnina, 24, & Maxim Shabalin, who turned 27 on January 25. These Russians won the 2008 European championship but were forced to pull out of the world championships a short time later because of his knee trouble. He had returned to skating too soon after an operation, and incurred major problems which took a long time to heal. This January, he fell during the Finnstep, the compulsory dance in the 2009 European championship, re-injuring his knee and taking them out of that event. In their absence, the European title was claimed by a huge margin of over ten points but another Russian couple, the very flexible Jana Khokhlova & Sergei Novitsky, who won bronze in the 2008 world championship.
On paper, as the least injured of the major players, Khokhlova, 23, & Novitsky, 27, are the favorites. However, also in the mix, are the new US champions, Meryl Davis, who turned 22 on New Year’s Day, & Charlie White, 21. Davis & White gave brilliant showings recently, winning their national title and the 4Cs championship. After their national win Davis said, "It’s kind of surreal right now. We said the other day that this is something we’ve been dreaming about for years. But it’s still amazing when it really happens." Like their training rinkmates, Virtue & Moir, this will be only their third world championship. They debuted in 7th place in 2007 and were 6th last year, but they are definitely on the fast track. With nothing to lose, this may be their finest moment yet. They know the Staples Arena. It was in Los Angeles, that they had their first taste of national success and disappointment when they won silver at Novice level, aged 15 & 14. It would have been gold had Davis not tried too hard and unexpectedly fell towards the end of their Free Dance. Despite their positions of being rivals, Belbin & Agosto and Davis & White remained in contact after Belbin & Agosto left Canton. When she first heard that Belbin & Agosto had withdrawn from nationals, Davis texted Belbin, "What are we going to do without you?" Without missing a beat, Belbin immediately sent a one-word reply, "Win!" Belbin added, "I text Charlie every time I get a Pistons game on TV here." When Davis & White claimed Belbin & Agosto’s vacant national title, she was wearing a necklace Belbin gave her for Christmas.
Recently, Belbin & Agosto were asked by a Boston magazine, "Who were your mentors?" Agosto said, "Gwendal Peizerat", while Belbin named Shae-Lynn Bourne, the Canadian 2003 world ice dance champion. Belbin said, "Growing up in Canada, I was a big fan of Shae-Lynn’s and being able to tour with her (in Stars on Ice at the end of last season) was a real treat. She is one of the most beautiful, confident ice dancers I’ve ever seen. She just makes everyone want to watch her." Belbin is one of the most positive people you can imagine, always looking on the good side of everything. Surprisingly, she admitted, "One day, Shae-Lynn and I were talking and I was complaining, ‘It’s so difficult. My whole career I’ve always heard that technically I’m the weak link in our team and that I’m holding Ben back. I might be nice to look at in my costumes but I’m not strong enough.’ And Shae-Lynn said, ‘I’ve heard that my entire career.’ I was flabbergasted. To me, she was the star. I mean her partner, Victor Kraatz, was amazing, but she was the star! To hear her say that she was insecure, just blew me away. It was helpful."
Making their debut are Emily Samuelson, 18, & Evan Bates, who turned 20 on February 23. The 2008 world junior champions, who train in Ann Arbor, gained silver in this season’s US championships and bronze in the Four Continents Championship. Also making their debut but for Canada is another young couple, Vanessa Crone, 18, & Paul Poirier, 17, who were fourth in the 4Cs event, although they beat Samuelson & Bates in the compulsory. In the mix are the European silver medalists who were fifth in the last world championships, Federica Faiella & Massimo Scali, who represent Italy but train at the Detroit SC; the British champions and European bronze medalists, Scottish siblings; Sinead & John Kerr, who train at the Princeton Sports Complex in NJ; and Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat of France.
Missing will be Nora Hoffmann, who competed in the world championships with Attila Elek 2003-2006. That partnership dissolved after he broke his leg during the 2007 European championships. Hoffmann teamed up with Max Zavozin, who won the US and world junior titles with Morgan Matthews. They had split up after not getting onto the 2006 US Olympic team. Hoffmann & Zavozin are now representing her home country of Hungary. However, in their international debut together at the recent European championship, he came down with flu and they were forced to withdraw. Then, training at the Hackensack rink in New Jersey, she fell and hit the boards with the side of her head, suffering a skull fracture behind her ear.
Copyright 2009 by ISIO